Outsourcing Your Software Development: The Pros and Cons

Many of the biggest names in business and technology are now routinely engaging in software development outsourcing. For some companies, it is the primary platform for rolling out new applications and projects while other companies make use of the outsourcing solutions in order to complement on their in-house development projects.

There are a host of benefits that are associated with software development outsourcing. Additionally, there are many potential pitfalls that developers will grapple with when it comes to software development outsourcing. When this process is done right, the pros typically outweigh the cons of outsourcing your software development projects. Here, you can have a look at the various pros as well as the cons of outsourcing your software development.

The Benefits of Outsourcing

There are many benefits that are associated with outsourcing your software or application development processes. The most obvious are the cost factors. Outsourcing your software development in the lower wage global markets such as China, India and even Eastern Europe is always several factors cheaper than building your software in the more advanced Western markets.

In fact, the primary reason why many companies outsource software development is to cut down on costs and increase their profit margins. By getting the most qualified programmers for the cost, you will be able to reap great dividends from your software development projects.

Get the Right Skills Sets

By hiring from the global outsourcing marketplace, it will be possible for you to fill gaps in your company’s skill sets and do this in a cost-effective manner. Traditionally, this would have entailed hiring a new employee or consultant which is way too expensive. You will not have to worry about the shortage of expert programmers when it comes to the outsourcing of your software development needs.

Save on Time

By outsourcing only certain aspects of the software development and working on a project-by-project basis, it is possible for companies to save hugely on the time that it would take to complete the software development.

The Demerits of Software Development Outsourcing

Outsourcing your software development projects is not always a bed of roses. There are many challenges that you are likely to grapple with. For example, working across time zones and with people from different nationalities may lead to a communication breakdown during the software development process. Additionally, if you do not choose your outsourcing partner carefully, you will also have to grapple with different sets of values and cultures which may not make the process as smooth as you would envision.

In certain instances, outsourcing software development may lead to drop in the employee morale, particularly in cases where you have your in-house team of software developers. This can lead to a drop in productivity and in some cases, outright hostility from the staff members who have been overlooked in favor of the software outsourcing company.

Quality may also be a concern when it comes to outsourcing your software development. If you do not take your time to carry out the due diligence and you relinquish some control during the software development process, you may end up with a software project that is not necessarily up to par.